Clonal Coppices

Clonal Coppices

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TOPIC: Rhododendron Clones
http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees/browse_thread/thread/3f76a5b02202a781?hl=en
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== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Sun, Dec 16 2007 8:35 pm
From: "Edward Frank"

ENTS,

In the flats near the firetower at Cook Forest are patches of Great Rhododendron forming what I would call coppices. It is my best guess that all of the bushes in each of these coppices are formed by root spreading from an initial rhododendron some time in the past and as such they are clones of the original. (Is there any way to practically / cheaply determine if these are indeed clones rather than sexually reproduced individual plants??) If these are small clonal coppices, then how big can they grow? I have seen the photos of the large rhododendron seas forming nearly inpenetrable masses in some areas of the Smokies. Could these also be larger versions of these clonal coppices, maybe something akin to the multi-acrepatches of clonal aspens? What do you all think?

Ed Frank

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Rhododendron Clones
http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees/browse_thread/thread/3f76a5b02202a781?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Sun, Dec 16 2007 8:56 pm
From: "Steve Galehouse"

Ed, ENTS-

Thirty or so years ago it was common practice to brush-hog stands of native
Rhododendron maximum, and Kalmia latifolia, wait a couple of years for the
flush, and then harvest the "sod" and ship it to northern markets--always
sold as "nursery grown", but really just collected material. I would think
the patches you have seen are certainly coppices, perhaps from deer browse.
Flower characteristics might demonstrate if they are an extensive clonal
population.

Steve

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